Car body frame straightening apparatus

ABSTRACT

A car body frame straightening apparatus consisting of a frame jig and a rim clamp having an adjustable attachment to the jig frame and comprising of a pair of jaws clamping to the body rim. One jaw (3) of the rim clamp is permanently fixed to a body piece (5) of the rim clamp (2) while the other, an adjustable clamp (4), is clampable by means of an eccentric clamping member (6) against the other jaw (2) in such a way that the rim clamp is clamped by virtue of an other set of eccentric elements (7, 8), which exert a clamping effect on the jig frame 1, to attach to the beam frame.

The present invention relates to a car body frame straighteningapparatus consisting of a frame jig and a body rim clamp having anadjustable attachment to the jig frame and comprising a pair of jawswhich clamp to the body rim.

In conventional car body frame straightening equipment, the rim clampsare assembled from flat and angle profile clamp pieces attached to aframe jig. The attachment takes place using multiple bolts. This kind ofa rim clamp known in the art is exemplified in FIG. 1 of the patentapplication.

The aim of the present invention is to achieve a totally new kind of carbody frame straightening apparatus in which the rim clamp is implementedas a single piece allowing quick and easy use. The car body framestraightening apparatus in accordance with the invention ischaracterized by having one jaw of the rim clamp permanently fixed tothe body piece of the rim clamp while the other jaw, or the adjustablejaw, is clampable by an eccentric cam lever against the first jaw sothat the locking operation of the rim clamp fixes the clamp firmly tothe jig frame beam or rail by means of another set of eccentric elementseffecting on the jig frame. By virtue of the invention, a car body framecan be attached extremely quickly at its rim to the straighteningapparatus while the straighteninq apparatus is simultaneously clamped tothe jig frame of the apparatus. With the help of the invention, the useof separate, easily lost fixture pieces, such as iron spacers and bolts,become obsolete.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that thebody rim clamp attachment to the jig frame beams and clamping to thebody rim is implemented with the help of a locking lever belonging tothe rim clamp, with the pivoting shaft of the lever carrying aneccentric member, such as an eccentrically placed shaft, whose eccentricrotation is effective on the movable jaw. The pivoting shaft carries aneccentric member, such as cam rollers placed eccentrically to the sidesof the shaft, with the eccentric movement of the rollers exerting aclamping effect on the jig frame beams. The movable jaw is pivotallymounted to the rim clamp so that the movement of the eccentric elementplaced on its shaft also exerts a clamping effect on the jig framebeams. By virtue of this arrangement, a single locking lever issufficient for performing all required attachments, that is, theattachment of the body rim to the body rim clamp and attachment of thebody rim clamp to the jig frame beams of the straightening apparatus.

The invention is next examined in detail with help of the followingexemplifying embodiment illustrated in the attached figures.

FIG. 1 shows the rim clamp of a car body frame straightening apparatusof the prior art.

FIG. 2 shows a rim clamp of the straightening apparatus in accordancewith the invention in a side view.

FIG. 3 shows the same element as illustrated in FIG. 2 in a top view.

FIG. 4 shows the same element as illustrated in FIG. 2 in an openedposition of the rim clamp.

The straightening apparatus incorporates a jig beam frame 1 and a rimclamp 2, adjustably attachable to the jig frame, with the clampcomprising a pair of jaws 3, 4 clampably attaching to the car body rim.One jaw 3 of the rim clamp is permanently fixed to a body piece 5 of therim clamp 2, while the other, an adjustable clamp 4, is clampable bymeans of an eccentric clamping member 6 against the other jaw 2. The rimclamp is clamped by virtue of another set of eccentric elements 7, 8,which exert a clamping effect on the jig frame 1, to attach it the beamframe. The attachment of the rim clamp to the frame 1 as well as itsclamping attachment to the car body rim is effected by a locking lever 9incorporated with the rim clamp. The lever 9 is attached to pivot shaft10 which carries the eccentric member 6, such as an eccentrically placedshaft, whose eccentric movement exerts a clamping effect on the movablejaw 4. The pivoting shaft 10 carries an eccentric member, whichcomprises cam rollers 7 mounted to the sides of the shaft 6, with theeccentric movement of the rollers exerting a clamping effect on the jigbeam. The movable clamping jaw 13 is pivotally mounted to the rim clampso that the movement of the eccentric element 8 mounted on the shaft 11is also effected on the jig frame 1. By lifting the locking lever 9 inthe direction shown by an arrow 12, the jaws 3, 4 as well as theeccentric elements 7, 8 release the clamping attachment of the rim clampfrom the jig frame beam. With the help of this arrangement, the rimclamp is adjustable to a desired position on the jig frame beam as wellas quickly reattachable to the jig frame and simultaneously to the carbody rim.

To assist in initially locating the rim clamp 2 on the jig beam frame 1,the fixed clamping member 15 which cooperates with clamping member 13can be adjusted through screws 14.

What is claimed is:
 1. A car body frame straightening assemblycomprising:a frame jig; a rim clamp having a first jaw movable thereonand a second jaw fixed thereon; an adjustment means for adjustablyclamping the rim clamp to the frame jig while at the same time clampingthe first jaw against the second jaw; wherein said adjustment meanscomprises two eccentrics driven by a first and second cam, respectively;wherein the first and second cams are mounted on a single shaft forrotation; wherein the first eccentric means is located on the movablefirst jaw to cause the movable first jaw to be brought into clampingposition with the second jaw by the first cam means when the shaft isrotated; and wherein the second eccentric is mounted on a movableclamping means on the rim clamp which presses against the frame jig toclamp the rim clamp to the frame jig in response to rotation of thesecond cam means when the shaft is rotated.
 2. A car body framestraightening assembly according to claim 1 wherein there is a singlehandle means for rotating the shaft.
 3. A car body frame assemblyaccording to claim 2 wherein there is an auxiliary adjusting mechanismfor positioning the second jaw means with respect to an article to beclamped by initially locating the position of the rim clamp on the framejig by a screw clamp.
 4. A car body frame assembly according to claim 1wherein there is an auxiliary adjusting mechanism for positioning thesecond jaw means with respect to an article to be clamped by initiallylocating the position of the rim clamp on the frame jig by a screwclamp.